Comparison

Time Timer vs Thought Saver

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Time Timer

This app provides a visual representation of time passing, making it easier to manage tasks and routines. It's designed to be inclusive and flexible for various needs, from educational settings to personal productivity.

Highlights
  • Iconic visual timer with disappearing disk
  • Inclusive design for various needs
  • Flexible routine creation and sequencing
  • Multiple timers and preset options
  • Customizable sound, vibration, and color
Features
Read full description

Feel time move. Stay on track. Stress less. From the makers of the original red disk timer, the Time Timer® App transforms the powerful visual tool trusted by families, teachers, therapists, and productivity pros for over 30 years into a fully customizable experience on your device. Whether you’re helping students build focus, supporting kids through daily routines, or simply managing your own tasks without overwhelm—Time Timer makes time feel more tangible and manageable. What Makes Time Timer Different? Iconic Visual Timer Watch time disappear as the disk gets smaller—a simple, intuitive way to feel time passing, not just track it. Inclusive by Design Trusted by people with ADHD, Autism, executive function challenges, or just a busy brain. Invented by a mom for her child, Time Timer has supported users of all abilities for decades. Flexible for Every Routine Use it once or build structured sequences. Create presets for daily habits. Run multiple timers at once. Make routines visual and calm transitions. Trusted in Schools, Homes & Workplaces From kindergarten classrooms to therapy sessions to boardrooms, Time Timer helps reduce resistance, improve focus, and make time awareness easier for everyone. Free Features Include: Create up to 3 timers Run multiple timers at once Use the original 60-minute red disk — or choose any duration Adjust sound, vibration, and color with limited options Premium Features Unlock Even More: Unlimited customization Build routines with timer sequencing (morning checklists, therapy steps, work sprints) Organize timers with Groups Sync across mobile and desktop devices Quick Set +/- buttons for fast adjustments Customize disk size and detail level Use Time Timer For: Morning and bedtime routines Homework and study blocks Transitions between tasks Work sprints and focus sessions Therapy, coaching, or classroom support Daily life skills for kids, teens, and adults Why It Works Time Timer® transforms time from something abstract and invisible into something your eyes can track and your brain can trust. That’s why it’s backed by research, loved by educators, and recommended by occupational therapists worldwide. Created for real life. Trusted for decades. Download Time Timer today and feel the difference.

About

Thought Saver

This app helps you build a better daily routine with tools like meditation timers, journaling, and chatbots. It also uses spaced repetition to help you remember important ideas and offers daily quizzes and pre-made flashcard decks for learning.

Highlights
  • Daily routine integration
  • Spaced repetition algorithm
  • Meditation timers
  • Gratitude journaling
  • Interactive chatbots
  • Daily quizzes
  • Flashcard decks
Features
Read full description

Discover a refreshed Thought Saver - your free, everyday companion for personal growth. We've added features to help you shape a wholesome daily routine, alongside our smart spaced repetition algorithm that helps remember important ideas. New routine tools: Integrate meditation timers, interactive chatbots, and gratitude journaling into your day. Smart spaced repetition: Our algorithm considers the importance of an idea and how well you recall it, helping you remember what truly matters. Daily quizzes: Expand your learning streak with handy quiz reminders. Idea exploration: Draw inspiration from our pre-existing flashcard decks and learn something new every day. Multi-platform sync: Seamless sync between our web app, mobile, and browser extension. Offline access: Create cards and take quizzes offline - we'll auto-sync once you're back online. Share with friends: Effortlessly share your cards and ideas via our cloud-based auto-syncing.

Screenshots

Time Timer4 screens
Thought Saver4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Thought Saver at 100% against Time Timer's 63%. Thought Saver also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). Time Timer's advantage is ratings volume (15K vs 14). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Time Timer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.95 per year. Thought Saver asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Thought Saver holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Time Timer has 15K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Time Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Thought Saver's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Time Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, Thought Saver every 11 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Time Timer versus Thought Saver: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTime TimerThought Saver
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (15K ratings)4.9 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings15K — better14
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size174 MB41 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperTime Timer LLCSparkWave

Customer experience

Time Timer

All ratings14,552 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral3.2%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews335 reviews
Positive62.7%
Neutral14.0%
Negative23.3%

Thought Saver

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Time Timer

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • No timers show up in app
  • Timer stops working when phone is locked
  • Inconsistent dark mode implementation
  • Vibration doesn't work as expected

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add Apple Watch complication
  • Allow rearranging of timers
  • Ability to continue timer after time is up
  • Option to change timer color and background
  • Lock timer settings on Apple Watch
Show 2 more
  • Add percentage countdown option
  • Integrate current time into app

Thought Saver

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Time Timer

Subscriptions1
  • Unlock all Time Timer features$9.951 Year
None

Thought Saver

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Time Timer free?
Time Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Thought Saver free?
Thought Saver is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Time Timer or Thought Saver?
Thought Saver is rated higher. Time Timer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Thought Saver averages 4.9 from 14 ratings.
Do Time Timer or Thought Saver have ads?
Neither Time Timer nor Thought Saver shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Time Timer or Thought Saver?
Time Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Thought Saver every 11 days. Most recently, Time Timer was updated on October 25, 2026 and Thought Saver on October 25, 2026.

Other comparisons